this day; he has got into such a rhodomontade manner all the morning!

Leont. But, sir, I that have so large a part in the benefit, is it not my duty to shew my joy? Is the being admitted to your favour so slight an 535 obligation? Is the happiness of marrying my Olivia so small a blessing?

Croak. Marrying Olivia! marrying Olivia! marrying his own sister! Sure, the boy is out of his senses. His own sister!

Leont. My sister!

Oliv. (aside.) Sister! How have I been mis

taken!

Leont. (aside.) Some curs'd mistake in all this I find.

Croak. What does the booby mean, or has he any meaning? Eh, what do you mean, you blockhead, you ?

540

545

Leont. Mean, sir—why, sir-only when my sister is to be married, that I have the pleasure 550 of marrying her, sir; that is, of giving her away, sir-I have made a point of it.

Croak. O, is that all? "Give her away." You have made a point of it." Then you had as good make a point of first giving away yourself, 555 as I'm going to prepare the writings between you and Miss Richland this very minute. What a fuss is here about nothing! Why, what's the

matter now? I thought I had made you, at least, as happy as you could wish.

Oliv. O! yes, sir, very happy.

560

Croak. Do you foresee any thing, child? You look as if you did. I think if any thing was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look out as another: and yet I foresee nothing. Exit. 565

Leontine, Olivia.

Oliv. What can it mean?

Leont. He knows something, and yet for my life, I can't tell what.

Oliv. It can't be the connexion between us, I'm pretty certain.

Leont. Whatever it be, my dearest, I'm resolv'd to put it out of Fortune's power to repeat our mortification. I'll haste, and prepare for our journey to Scotland this very evening. My friend Honeywood has promis'd me his advice 5 and assistance. I'll go to him, and repose our distresses on his friendly bosom and I know so much of his honest heart, that if he can't relieve our uneasinesses, he will at least share them.

Exeunt.

570

575

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE, Young Honeywood's House.
Bailiff, Honeywood, Follower.

Bailiff. Looky, sir, I have arrested as good men as you in my time: no disparagement of you neither. Men that would go forty guineas on a game of cribbage. I challenge the town to shew a man in more genteeler practice than myself!

Honeywood. Without all question, Mr.—I forget your name, sir?

Bail. How can you forget what you never knew? he, he, he!

Honeyw. May I beg leave to ask your name?
Bail. Yes, you may.

Honeyw. Then, pray, sir, what is your name, sir?

5

ΙΟ

Bail. That I didn't promise to tell you. He, 15 he, he! A joke breaks no bones, as we say among us that practice the law.

Honeyw. You may have reason for keeping it a secret, perhaps?

Bail. The law does nothing without reason. I'm asham'd to tell my name to no man, sir.

20

If you can shew cause, as why, upon a special capus, that I should prove my name—But come, Timothy Twitch is my name. And, now you know my name, what have you to say to that? 25 Honeyw. Nothing in the world, good Mr. Twitch, but that I have a favour to ask, that's all.

Bail. Ay, favours are more easily asked than granted, as we say among us that practice the 30 law. I have taken an oath against granting favours. Would you have me perjure myself?

Honeyw. But my request will come recommended in so strong a manner, as I believe you'll have no scruple (pulling out his purse). 35 The thing is only this: I believe I shall be able to discharge this trifle in two or three days at farthest; but as I would not have the affair known for the world, I have thoughts of keeping you, and your good friend here, about me, 40 till the debt is discharged; for which I shall be properly grateful.

Bail. Oh! that's another maxum, and altogether within my oath. For certain, if an honest man is to get any thing by a thing, there's no 45 reason why all things should not be done in civility.

Honeyw. Doubtless, all trades must live, Mr.
Twitch; and your's is a necessary one.
Gives him money.

Bail. Oh, your honour! I hope your hon- 50 our takes nothing amiss as I does, as I does nothing but my duty in so doing. I'm sure no man can say I ever give a gentleman, that was a gentleman, ill usage. If I saw that a gentleman was a gentleman, I have taken money not to see 55 him for ten weeks together.

Honeyw. Tenderness is a virtue, Mr. Twitch. Bail. Ay, sir, it's a perfect treasure. I love to see a gentleman with a tender heart. I don't know, but I think I have a tender heart myself. 60 If all that I have lost by my heart was put together, it would make a—but no matter for that.

Honeyw. Don't account it lost, Mr. Twitch. The ingratitude of the world can never deprive us of the conscious happiness of having acted 65 with humanity ourselves.

Bail. Humanity, sir, is a jewel. Its better than gold. I love humanity. People may say that we, in our way, have no humanity; but I'll shew you my humanity this moment. There's 70 my follower here, little Flanigan, with a wife and four children; a guinea or two would be more to him than twice as much to another. Now, as I can't shew him any humanity myself, I must beg leave you'll do it for me.

Honeyw. I assure you, Mr. Twitch, your's is a most powerful recommendation.

Giving money to the follower.

75